MGT2000: Principles of Management: Basic Company Research

What Kind of Company?

In general, it's easier to find information companies that trade on a stock exchange (public companies) or companies with large public profiles. The business databases will include articles about all types of companies.

Public companies and subsidiaries

Consider the public company Yum Brands. You are probably more familiar with its subsidiaries, KFC, Pizza Hit and Taco Bell. There should be plenty of articles about these subsidiaries with their large public profiles.

Company Databases

Profiles from Datamonitor available through the Business Source Premier database.

Use these sources for a quick overview of a company. Brief descriptions are good places to start along with a company's website. Expect find a brief description of a company's business, the names of executives and occasionally competitors. Each source below also has some unique features as noted.

Mergent is a good source for US and international public companies. It includes company histories in addition to current and historical financial statements. Financial data is easily downloaded into a spreadsheet.